Author needs your help

Thank you for bringing my attention to your books MC - I've certainly not seen them around anywhere yet. My ds is only in reception and just getting to grips with reading. However, based on both dh's and my voracious appetite for reading (mine particularly when I was a child) I am sure we'll get onto that sort of stuff soon. I think ds would probably like the title, but not be impressed with the art-work. However, I am sure that people would not buy him one of the series as a present due to the title.

However, based on dh's and my experience, I would also second the call for some 'advanced readers' matter for the younger reader... Enid Blyton only goes so far.

I think that this thread has got back onto a more even keel - please be aware that MN has been getting in the press a lot lately, normally portrayed as place to come for a bust-up. Whilst there are some threads that attract very opposing beliefs, and some people will champion 'their' cause very vociferously, my experience is that these are relatively few and far between. But because of the general press comments, I think quite a few people are ready to jump in quite quickly. Thanks for sticking with it - and for adapting your style of posting to suit the site and contributors much better!

Well,reading this thread was a bit of a rollercoaster ride!
I have a 9yr old DS,he loves books but is not a brilliant reader,and I'm always looking for books he will read that are within his capabilities.I wouldn't have looked at this series because of the title and cartoony covers(if DS fancies a book I get it,but often it's me choosing) BUT having read your description about where the gang's name came from,and reviews on Amazon,I'm now thinking we'll give them a try.
I think part of the problem is that they merge into a vast mass of possibly funny/rude books with similiarly styled covers aimed at boys...

When is 'Einstein's Underpants' due to be published?

I have to say there is an absolute deluge of children's books with underpants in the title now.

Is it because they are sure-fire sellers or what? Because it's getting a bit ...well... meh...

Mumsnet is the bum
Bare and hairless
Craved by the polyester underpants.

The bare bum man came,
Laughed at us with lacky trews:
Haiku pants. Winner.

Mortal - I'd love you to win the Haiku compeition. It would make me laugh like an old drain ... something I try to avoid, what with wearing polyester trews and all.

Does your Haiku have underpants in it?

Mortal So equals then? That's nice. And quite a relief that she doesn't wear the elasticated polyester trousers, I should imagine?

Ha!

I suspect that you are hooked, Mortal. No escaping MN now.

Welcome.

If you can survive the pasting on here, then you are going to fit right in.

Oh, and I know what you mean about the mumsnetter press - loved Janet Street Porter's piece in the mail over the weekend. And I will never ever ever wear boden!

This is an interesting thread - I am a pretty open minded person, and like/understand the slightly subversive/edgy element to some children's fiction. Unfortunately though, I just think the title gives your potential audience the wrong impression. I can see that you are aiming for rude/innocent but if I didn't know anything about the book, having the sort of free-associating mind I do, I would read it as having some sort of vaguely veiled sexual/homo-erotic or paedophilic association.
I am sorry, I know that isn't your intention, but in today's non-innocent media-savvy world, and with parents' concerns with paedeophilia, etc, I think it could be construed in this way, and I would simply ditch the "bare bum" to lose all its unintended connotations. You need something silly and rude, but not that rude, if you get my meaning!

Well, I did find this thread amusing, Flight. Maybe I have a strange SOH.

The elasticated trousers comment was a bit too close to comfort perhaps. I will admit to lolling around in my PJs too often for sartorial elegance, even if they are rather smart PJs.

I changed into Boden for the school run. Naturally.

totally fair Lenin, (though I missed that - having seen this thread this morning and when I came back I just skimmed the newest posts)

I aim to please!

Or, should that be "Amuse" ?

I hate it when people say they found an argument/confrontation 'amusing'

it makes me think they are just posturing and afraid of admitting it upset them a bit.

But really, I'm not sure why I am wating my time on this thread.

Hi, Mortal.

This thread is quite surreal, with its proprietorial mners telling you the rules, and the threats, the flounces, and the inevitable troll accusations.

I have to say, your elasticated trousers comment didn't come over quite as amusingly as you intended it, but that's the dynamics of an internet chat forum for ya!

Still, I think you got what you originally came on for - insight into the effect that the Bare Bum stuff might have upon the commercial success, or otherwise, of your book. Did ya?

Best wishes.